John Wycliffe
Definition
John Wycliffe was an English theologian and early church reformer during the 14th century. He is known for translating the Bible into vernacular English, which made it more accessible to common people.
Analogy
Imagine if all your textbooks were written in complex scientific jargon that only few could understand. Then someone comes along and translates them into everyday language that everyone can comprehend - that's what John Wycliffe did with Bible!
Related terms
Lollardy: This is a pre-Protestant Christian religious movement that followed Wycliffe's teachings, emphasizing scripture reading in vernacular languages and criticizing church corruption.
Vernacular Language: This refers to native language spoken by ordinary people in particular region or country. In case of Wycliffe, he translated Bible into vernacular English from Latin.
Indulgences: These are grants issued by the Catholic Church that absolve a person from punishment for sins. Wycliffe criticized this practice as part of his reform efforts.
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